Dear Pharmacist,
Confession, I’m a germaphobe, and now avoid power hand dryers in public restrooms because of your recent article. Any other advice to keep pesky germs off my clean body. --L.V., Tulsa, Oklahoma

I visited the Natural Products Expo West trade show in California to find cool, new supplements, foods and cosmetics. Some of them are so new, you’ll have to ask your health food store to stock. These were may faves:

Dear Readers,
The loss of life and devastation in Japan is horrific, and the effects of the nuclear crisis will last many years. You may need to protect yourself so today I’m offering ways to help you because radiation poisoning is dangerous. It comes with heavy metal burdens, think strontium, cesium and uranium, not just the classic metals you know of like aluminum, mercury, lead and arsenic. Once absorbed, these metals permanently damage all your organs, especially the heart, brain, reproductive organs, nervous system and thyroid gland. Here are options to help pull metals out of the body and improve detoxification, in no particular order:

Dear Readers,
I could probably write a regular “I Told You So” column because new research keeps showing up that backs up advice that I’ve been giving for years. If you are among the 21 million people in this country who take a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) used for blocking acid in the stomach, then read on.

Dear Pharmacist,
Heart disease runs in my family so naturally, I’m worried. A friend told me that brushing your teeth can prevent heart disease. I was polite, but I don’t believe him. Can this be true? --K.M., Sanibel, Florida

Dear Pharmacist,
My wife made a resolution this year to eat healthy, but she loves candy and chocolate. Is there any compromise because I want to surprise her with something delicious without sabotaging her diet? --S.H., Dallas, Texas

Dear Pharmacist,
Both my father and brother have suffered a heart attack. I’m worried because I’m 52 years old and my blood pressure is slightly elevated, but other than that, I am pretty healthy. All my tests are okay, but I am scared. Any suggestions?
--P.A. Denver, Colorado

Dear Pharmacist,
You’ve mentioned that cayenne pepper is very healing for the stomach and can prevent ulcers. How can that be? I thought chili pepper would burn a hole in your gut faster than you could say, “hot chili pepper.” Not so?